FIREFIGHTERS were up all night tackling a blaze in a commercial building.

They were called to the site near AD Fuels in Banters Lane, Great Leighs, just after 11pm last night.

Two engines were sent from Braintree, two from Chelmsford, two from Witham, another vehicle from Halstead and another from Colchester.

The building, used as a fabricators, was 50 per cent alight when crews arrived. It contained a number a cylinders, and two of the cylinders had exploded inside the building.

The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said that at 1am they were tackling the fire with multiple hose reels.

Relief crews took over at 3am.

The fire was out by 5am, however crews stayed until 7am to make sure all hotspots were put out.

An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire.

Four fire engines took over the incident at 7am.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Assistant Divisional Officer Dave Barnard said: "Firefighters have worked extremely hard overnight to tackle this fire and to stop it spreading to any of the other buildings on the business park. The building is separated into three businesses, two of the units have suffered significant damage, but the third unit has been saved.

"We have enlisted the help of a structural engineer from Chelmsford City Council who has surveyed the building as parts of the building where it is most fire damaged has suffered partial collapse. 

"We will be here for most of today to ensure all hot spots are fully extinguished. An investigation will now be carried out to establish the cause of the fire."

(Video by Scott Hendry)